Never one to pass up on an opportunity for silliness, this was one anime song cover we just had to share. Norio Wakamoto and Madoka together in perfect harmony is something that’ll be most dissonant, but enjoyable because of it.

If you’ve been keeping track of the anime fandom for any stretch of time, you’re probably no stranger to the effect that Puella Magi Madoka Magica has had. The anime, combined with Yuki Kajiura’s appropriately foreboding soundtrack, brought about a memorable experience that’s often talked about as a most excellent twist on the magical girl genre.

So to say that we love the music is a bit of an understatement, especially when tracks like “Sis puella magica!” draw us in with their melancholia, foreshadowing the fate of the magical girls in Madoka. But before the show even gets to its depressing stage, the anime serves up some more heroic tracks, none of which stand out more than Mami’s theme, “Credens Justitiam.”

In the original “Credens Justitiam,” you had a song delivered by the lilting chorus provided by Kalafina, which provided the song with a soaring quality that spoke of lofty ideals, giving it a sense of grace, and, of course, beauty. Here, we have longtime anime seiyuu Norio Wakamoto giving his rendition of “Credens Justitiam.” Wakamoto, known for voicing characters as The Emperor Charles Zi Britannia in Code Geass, Oda Nobunaga in Sengoku Basara, and the narrator in Hayate the Combat Butler.

His delivery contrasts with the original’s aspirational qualities, instead, coming off as being rather silly as his trademark deep voice rolls the “rr” sounds in the song and the way he harmonizes. Needless to say, it’s a novel and hilarious twist on a well-known song that’s become part of the anime music/Yuki Kajiura canon that’ll succeed at the very least in bringing a few chuckles or grimaces, especially when he narrates about magical girls halfway though this song or simply roars/groans all the way to the finish.

Perhaps you’ve really enjoyed watching Puella Magi Madoka Magica and that you really enjoyed listening to the Madoka soundtrack. Maybe watching through the movies really helped remind you of certain scenes where the music made a huge impact and that you really want to relive those moments once more. Well, for fans who’ve really liked Yuki Kajiura’s compositions for the Madoka Magica anime, wait no longer! After seeing only releases in the vein of DVD/Blu-ray enclosures, we’ve finally got a release date for the official soundtrack! The Puella Magi Madoka Magica soundtrack will be released on December 25th. So yes, that means it’ll be out on Christmas Day and can be pre-ordered at CDJapan if you want this awesome CD set.

In terms of the CD’s contents, you can expect to see many of the songs found in the anime. Tracks like “Sis Puella Magica” makes appearances as does Bach’s “Ave Maria”. And, of course, the soundtrack would not be complete without Kalafina’s “Magia” making an appearance. So if re-living Madoka’s journey or Homura’s struggles is right up your alley, definitely think about getting this CD and let the nostalgia take you into the diabolical worlds that the magical girls must endure until the cycle can be broken for good.

Two new articles have graced our anime music blog in the past week, one of which is an editorial that goes in-depth into 3 anime series that add meaning to their opening/ending themes. While the usage of OP/ED themes have commonly been used to set the tone for an anime, in some cases, the reverse is true as the anime make the instrumentals and lyrics in their respective opening and ending theme much more meaningful, tying the anime song together with the anime in a way that renders it unforgettable and better as a result. Definitely give it a read as it goes on to talk about Natsume Yuujinchou, Steins;Gate, and the perennial favorite, Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

The second post is a review of Tsuritama’s soundtrack. We did cover Tsuritama’s soundtrack release a few weeks ago and we’re happy to report that it’s soundtrack is very much wistful and enjoyable. If you’re looking for music that’s calm, mellow, and slightly eccentric, look no further than the Kuricorder Quartet’s compositions for this anime.

ClariS, the girl duo made up of singers Clara and Alice have once again reprised their roles as singers for the Puella Magi Madoka Magica franchise. This time, they will be performing a theme for the Madoka movie slated to be released this October. Instead of performing the Madoka OP song “Connect,” their new song will be titled “Luminous” and has been revealed through the latest trailer to show off the movie.

The Madoka movie itself looks to summarize the TV series and will be set as a trilogy. Much of the main staff for the movie will be retained; Akiyuki Shinbo will still be the director and Yuki Kajiura will continue composing music like she did for Madoka’s soundtrack. For those looking for a preview of what to expect from the movie, check out the trailer which includes ClariS’s new song, which will be formally released on October 10.

Yuki Kajiura, the anime composer known for her works for Noir, Madlax, My-HiME, has confirmed that she will be doing a solo performance at the NHK Hall in Tokyo on June 29 this year. And as an added bonus, for fans who really enjoyed the work she did for the Puella Magi Madoka Magica soundtrack, she will be playing a few selections from that OST as part of the setlist.